Of all the things college is daily teaching me, the greatest is this: Jesus Christ died for my sins, and His death on the cross and His resurrection addresses every second of everyday, and ought to permeate all of my thoughts and actions.This afternoon, I was feeling discouraged by alot of things. This whole week, I have wanted to go home, to escape all of this work piling up and this college atmosphere, to just be home with my family. Many things from this week came together and culminated in a long afternoon. In the beginning of the evening, my friend invited me down with him to listen while he practiced piano. This was such a blessing from God. I brought my Bible, C.J. Mahaney's Christ Our Mediator and my journal down with me and sat on the floor while he played Debussy and hymns for an hour. I didn't turn to one of Paul's epistles or even to the Psalms; I went right to the book of John and read the account of Christ's crucifixion. It was amazing to me how quickly I felt comforted and encouraged. The thought that the Lord of the universe came to earth as a man, and then drank the cup of God's wrath for MY sin washed over me again and again.
A passage from Mr. Mahaney's book really struck me:
"Not only will [Jesus] leave nothing in that cup of wrath for us to drink...but today you and I find ourselves with another cup in our hands. It's the cup of salvation. From this precious new cup we find ourselves drinking consistently, endlessly, eternally...for the cup of salvation is always full and overflowing."
Assurance of God's faithfulness and sustaining grace came once again when my eyes were re-focused upon this perfect love, and the extent to which Christ went for my salvation. "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) Because of Christ's death on the cross, I can rest in His grace which covers my life and gives me the strength to persevere and to press on for His glory. I can sing, with the hymnist:
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, you have taught me to say,
It is well with my soul.
4 comments:
Nice Shan, glad for what you are learning and for trials of all kinds. Love, Dad
Well said, nice to hear how God is at work in your life. I really wanted to call you this past weekend, but things have been pretty crazy around here lately. However, a phone call will be coming to a town near you some day soon. Just out of curiosity, you guys are coming home for thanksgiving, right?
I love these posts. Thank you for your encouragement, Shan. You are a beautiful spirit, dear heart. Hey, I'm thinking of possibly applying to Hillsdale. Should I do it?
That is beautiful Shannon!
Thank you for pointing it back to Christ! So thankful for God's grace in you!
I especially loved that quote about the cup! That is beautiful! Totally turns my world upside down! Amazing that we are drinking in the blessings belonging to the Son Of GOD, the Most High!
Beautiful :)
So glad God is using these struggles and trials to point you to the most important thing and teach you to lean on HIM alone! :)
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